Emily Odwin, Barbados - Bronze Medal winner Junior Golf Singles, girls 15-18, in the Maccabi World Union Games.The Maccabiah is the world’s largest Jewish athletic competition in the tradition and values of Maccabi, emphasizing the centrality of the State of Israel in the life of the Jewish people. The Maccabiah takes place every four (4) years in Israel - "the Jewish Olympics" as they are often called, are Maccabi World Union's largest and most famous enterprise.

Barbados’ top junior female player, Emily Odwin grabbed a third place finish when the 2017 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships concluded in Trinidad on Thursday.Competing in the girls’ 11-13 division, Odwin posted 89 in sunny conditions on Day 3 of the regional tournament and carded a 54-hole gross 259, on the final day of competition at the St.Andrews course at Moka.Brooke Rivers of the Turks & Caicos islands, who shared the title with Odwin last year in Barbados, emerged the clear champion with a gross 242 as she dominated the division from Day 1. Rivers, who completed the front nine on one-under-par, posted 77 on Thursday and was 13 strokes clear of second-placed Bahamian Sophie Anand (255) who ended with an 85 after being tied with Odwin at one stage.

Among the 16-18 girls, defending champion Valeria Pacheco of Puerto Rico was consistently too strong for her rivals and ran away with the title after holding a clear 12-stroke lead at the end of 36 holes. She posted 79 on Thursday for a gross 235 and was followed by Kei Yae-Eun of the Dominican Republic (248) and Kei Harris of Jamaica on 249.

There were no stoppages for rain on the final day but some afternoon showers chased in the final group of players around 3.30pm, to close-out a testing three days of golf on the Moka course.

Champion and hometown favourite Sachin Kumar of Trinidad, successfully defended his boys18 and under crown and also emerged the top player of the championships. He posted a three-day gross 222, while following up Wednesday’s 73 with another one-over-par 73 that gave him a four-stroke victory over second-placed Rodrigo Sanchez of the Dominican Republic, who shot 75 for a gross 226. Third was Gustavo Betances of the DR with a gross 227.

Barbados junior champion Iz Hustler made up some ground with a final day 75 in the 16-18 division, the best score among his compatriots, but finished 10th in a field of 23 players with a 54-hole gross 239.

Barbados player Xzavier Wiggins slotted 6th in the 14-15 division which was won by Andres Aranguren of Puerto Rico who sealed it with a two-over-par 74 and a gross 224. Wiggins posted a gross 244 while Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands finished second on 234.

Yeji Lee (gross 238) of Trinidad won the girls’ 15 and under division while Gustavo Rangel of Puerto Rico took the boys’ 11-13 catergory with a three-day gross 229.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad - It was another tough day in rainy conditions on Wednesday, Day 2 of the 2017 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships in Trinidad and Tobago .

In between two stoppages for rain, enforced as a proactive measure by tournament officials because of the presence of lighting and thunder, most players found it difficult on the heavy St. Andrews course at Moka.

Barbados junior champion Iz Hustler, who was regarded among the early contenders at the start of the tournament, shot the day’s best score for his team, registering 79 to add to his first day 85 for a 36-hole aggregate of 164.That kept him among the top 12 in the boys’ 16-18 division, where defending champion and hometown favourite Sachin Kumar of Trinidad posted the day’s best score of one-over-par 73 to position himself to defend his crown on the final day, Thursday.After 76 on the first day, the bespectacled Kumar maintained the lead with a gross 149, two strokes ahead of Gustavo Betances of the Dominican Republic , who also posted a 73 for a 36-hole gross 151. Rodrigo Sanchez, also of the DR, was joint second with his compatriot (151) while Ian Aldarondo of Puerto Rico was third on 153.

Barbados player Xzavier Wiggins, who shot 78 on the first day, fell away on a wet and testing Day 2 as he registered 85 in the boy’s 14-15 age-group where Andres Aranguren of Puerto Rico seemed on course for the gold medal. Aranguren posted scores of 74 and 76 , for a two-day 150, and was followed by 14 year-old Aaron Jarvis of the Cayman Islands, who matched Kumar with the day’s best 73. Jarvis’ 73 moved him into second place with a gross 153, four strokes ahead of third placed Ho Jing Kang (157) of the Dominican Republic .

Among the girls, Brooke Rivers of the Turks & Caicos, who shared the girls’ 13 and under title with Barbadian Emily Odwin last year, remained on course to defend her title and was followed by Odwin who shot 82 on Wednesday to add to her first day 88.

Rivers posted 81 for a two-day gross 165 while Odwin and Sophie Anand of the Bahamas were both tied in second place on 170.Defending champion Valeria Pacheco of Puerto Rico remained too strong for her rivals, in the 17-18 catergory , and posted a 77 on Day2 to lead the field by 12 clear stokes. Pacheco leads with a gross 156, and is followed by Kei Harris of Jamaica on 164. Barbadian Alyssa Inniss-Gittens shot scores of 94 and 87.​The 30th annual Caribbean Junior Championships are being staged by the Caribbean Golf Association and has attracted 94 players from nine regional territories.

Xzavier Wiggins (middle) shot the day's best score among the Barbadian players, posting 79 in the boys 14-15 years division.

Barbados' top junior golfers were hoping for a better Day 1 on Tuesday after a testing first day at the 2017 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships at the St. Andrews Course in Trinidad.

Torrential rains on Sunday and Monday accounted for heavy conditions on Tuesday and most of the regional players seemingly struggled on the challenging course at Moka.

Several players, including a number of Trinidadians more familiar with the course, shot in the three figures.

After the first 18 holes, of the 54-hole tournament, Xzavier Wiggins shot the day's best score among the Barbadian players , posting 79 in the boys 14-15 years division.

Wiggins was five shots off the pace and among the top four , in what is shaping to be a very competitive division, as 14 year-old Puerto Rican Andres Aranguren registered a two-over-par 74 which was the day's best score.

Fellow Barbados players Oaziah Layne (85) and Dario Sargeant (102), in his first outing in national colours, were hoping for a better second day.

In the boys' 16-18 years catergory, a tussle between Puerto Rico , host country Trinidad and the Dominican Republic seemed to be emerging as their players shot in the 70's.

Defending champion Sachin Kumar of Trinidad (76) held a share of the lead with compatriot Sam Avey (76) and Rodrigo Sanchez of the Dominican Republic (76) while Andrew Jarvis of the Cayman islands (77) was one stroke behind. Puerto Ricans Ian Aldorondo, Christian Correa and Melvin Morales and Jamaican Siebert Walker, all shot 78.

Barbadian players in that division, captain Christian Mason (86) and contender Iz Hustler (85) appeared among the contenders over the first nine holes but fell away over the last nine .

Among the girls, defending champion in the 11-13 division, Barbadian Emily Odwin who shared the title last year with Brooke Rivers of the Turks & Caicos, shot 88 on Tuesday while Rivers took an early lead in the division with 84.

Puerto Rican Valeria Pacheo, the defending champion in the girls 16-18 division seemed capable of emerging as a repeat winner as she posted 79 to lead the field.

​Ninety-four players from nine regional territories are contesting the 30th annual Caribbean Junior championships which are being staged by the Caribbean Golf Association.

Barbados' top junior players are currently in Trinidad and Tobago, participating in the 2017 Caribbean Junior Golf Championships.The 30th annual CGA junior championships are being played at the St. Andrews Club, at Moka, in Port-of-Spain.

The Barbados team features two newcomers, in Dario Sargeant a 14 year-old student of the Grantley Adams Memorial School, and Ciara Cornic, a 14 year-old who attends Providence Secondary. Both are gaining Barbados caps for the first time while the remainder of the squad have all previously represented the island in various regional tournaments.

BGA President Trevor Tasker said the team was a good mixture of experience and emerging talent and were relatively well prepared, based on their showings in various local tournaments and involvement in the BGA’s year-round training programme.New captain Christian Mason, who is playing his third Caribbean championship, said they were looking forward to the event on a challenging course.

The team is hoping that the improving Emily Odwin, who shared the girls’ under-13 title with Brooke Rivers of Turks & Caicos last year, will be able to defend her gold medal and also that the other players find their form in the quest to grab the overall team title.The Caribbean Junior Championships are being staged by the Caribbean Golf Association (CGA) and players from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, the Cayman Islands , Barbados , Puerto Rico, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, the USVI and Turks & Caicos are contesting the championships over 54 holes.